Kathy Mattea Concert

If we’re going to take things in chronological order, and what with me being a librarian and all you just know that’s the way we’re going to take things, then the first thing I’m going to tell you about is last Thursday when Dale and I went to see Kathy Mattea in Rockport. I got him the tickets for his birthday back in June and part of the deal was that a) he had to take me and b) we had to go to Woodman’s for fried clams.

Here is the obligatory picture of my fried clams. They may not look all that pretty but they are so delicious. And expensive at $28.95/plate. Good thing we don’t indulge in this particular treat very often as it’s hard on the wallet and the arteries.

Woodman’s is worth it, though, and the staff there is friendly and the service is fast. It’s all counter pick up, whether you’re getting food, as pictured above.

Or beer, as pictured here as Dale waits patiently to order a draft.

It’s a short and pretty drive from Woodman’s to the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport. And it was a beautiful early summer evening so we took the opportunity to walk down to the water and take a few photos. The building you see with all of the windows is the performance center. I’m sure the view from inside is amazing but the curtains were closed so that all that glass didn’t detract from the musical performance.

And here’s my handsome husband with Rockport harbor in the background. I may have even handed the camera to him for a shot or two of me but you’re going to have to be patient and wait for those.

We had a cocktail on the 3rd floor of the theater and then headed down to take our seats in the 4th row. Woot! Dale was very happy about that, I can tell you. Close enough for a few good pictures of Kathy Mattea and her band, close enough to see their expressions and really feel part of a small circle of friends.

Not as close as this, though! It’s a confident wife who gladly takes a photo of her husband with one of his major crushes, you know.

Wow! I was shocked at the price of the fried clams. It’s been almost 50 years since we celebrated our wedding on Cape Cod and still talk about the wonderful fried clams and clams on the half shell that we enjoyed there. We’ve lived in California most of our married life and fried clams come out of a frozen box and are just not the same. It’s been many, many years so I guess prices go up.

I have been to the Shalin Liu Performance Center a few times and when the curtains are open the view is amazing especially at sunset. I love Woodmans but Farnham’s down the street a bit is still my favorite. There is a great yarn shop nearby in Gloucester – Coverted Yarns. It has great yarn is and is owned by a local fisherman. Definitely worth checking out.

Too bad the curtains were shut – sunset on the water is lovely during concerts. P.S. Check out Nate’s right in Rockport for fried clams – closer, better view, cheaper and better than where you went. P.P.S. It’s Coveted Yarn in Gloucester (right on the road in) not Converted. The help is very “helpful.”

I was only in Rockport once, but it was over 20 years ago – I loved it, and was so sad when I heard it got pretty badly damaged by a hurricane some years later. But I’m sure it didn’t take long to rebuild and regain its charm.

The clams look great – must be whole-belly clams? I’ve only had strips. Guess I should have tried the whole-belly clams when I was in MV.

You are a good wife! What a pretty spot. I don’t think we have ever been to Rockport. And those clams look so yummy. Crazy how expensive they are huh? That’s the same price down here at Evelyns. Which is why we only go once a year!